Plum tree named &#39;suplumforty&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct plum tree variety,  Prunus salicina,  cv. ‘Suplumforty’ is characterized by ripening mid-season. The new variety is further characterized by dark skin and reddish flesh color.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES CLAIMED

Prunus salicina

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Suplumforty’

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of plum, Prunus salicina cv. ‘Suplumforty’. The new variety was first hybridized in 2002 and selected in July 2004 by Terry Bacon as breeder number: ‘PL453RB’. The new variety was first evaluated by Terry Bacon near Wasco, Calif. in Kern County. The variety ‘Suplumforty’ was originated by hybridization.

The new variety ‘Suplumforty’ is characterized by ripening mid-season and having dark skin and reddish flesh color.

The seed parent is ‘Suplumtwentyfour’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,395), and the pollen parent is an unknown plum in the breeding population. The parent varieties were first crossed in March of 2002, with the date of planting of the progeny being January 2003, and the date of first flowering being March 2004. The new plum variety ‘Suplumforty’ was first asexually propagated by Terry Bacon near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. in January 2006, by grafting.

The new variety ‘Suplumforty’ is distinguished from its seed parent, ‘Suplumtwentyfour’, in that the new variety ripens about nineteen days later than ‘Suplumtwentyfour’.

The new variety ‘Suplumforty’ has a similar harvest time as ‘Suplumeleven’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,902), but the skin is darker and the flesh is more red in color. The new variety ‘Suplumforty’ has a harvest time seven days after Black Amber (unpatented).

The new variety ‘Suplumforty’ has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, budding and grafting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new plum variety ‘Suplumforty’. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, an exterior and sectional view of a fruit divided across its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked (shipping ripe) and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to 4 year old ‘Suplumforty’ plants on Nemared (unpatented) rootstock, grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif., during July 2009, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

-   Tree:     -   -   General.—(Measurements taken on 4 year old tree unless             otherwise noted.) Size: Medium. Normal for most plum             varieties. Reaches a height of approximately 3 meters             including normal pruning. Spread: Normal for most plum             varieties. Approximately 3 meters. Vigor: Moderately             vigorous. Growth: Semi-upright. Productivity: Very             productive. Fruit set is usually two or more times desired             amount for marketable size fruit. Form: Vase formed. Bearer:             Regular. Fertility: Unknown. Canopy Density: Medium-dense.             Hardiness: Half-hardy in all fruit growing areas of             California. Disease Resistance/Susceptibility: No specific             testing for relative plant disease resistance/susceptibility             has been designed. Under close observation in Kern County,             Calif., no particular plant/fruit disease             resistance/susceptibility has been observed.         -   Trunk.—(Measurements at approximately 30 cm above soil             line.) Diameter: Approximately 21 cm, varies with soil type,             fertility, climatic conditions and cultural practices.             Texture: Medium shaggy, increases with age of tree. Trunk             color: About Grey-green 198C to Grey-brown 201A; becomes             darker with age.         -   Branches.—(Measurements at approximately 90 cm above soil             line.) Size: Diameter ranges from approximately 6 to             approximately 9 cm. Texture: Smooth on first year wood,             increasing roughness with tree age. Color: Branches vary             from about Grey-brown 199B to Brown 200B. Number of             Lenticels: Medium. Lenticels Density: Approximately 2-4 per             cm². Lenticels Color: About Grey-brown 199C. Lenticels Size:             Medium. Lenticels Length: Approximately 3 mm. Lenticels             Width: Approximately 1 mm.         -   Flowering shoots.—(Data taken in July at midpoint of             previous season shoots.) Size: Average diameter             approximately 6 mm. Color: Topside: About Grey-brown 197B.             Underside: About Grey-brown 197B. Internode Length: Medium;             approximately 25 mm. Midway on flowering shoot. Flowering             Shoot Lenticels: Sparse. Color: About Grey-orange 164B.             Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm. Flowering Shoot Leaf Buds:             Shape: Obovate. Width: Approximately 0.8 mm. Length:             Approximately 1 mm. Color: About Grey-orange 166C. Flowering             Shoot Flower Buds: Shape: Obovate-pointed, borne usually on             short spurs, approximately 1-3 cm long. Width: Approximately             1.3 mm. Length: Approximately 2 mm. Color: About Grey-orange             166C. Number per Spur: Usually 20-30 on short spurs.             Position: Free. Density of buds: Dense. Flower bud             distribution: Generally 20-30 on short spurs. Ratio of wood             (leaf) buds to flowering buds: 1/20 on short spurs. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaves.—Size: Medium. Average length: Medium; approximately             81 mm without petiole. Average width: Medium; approximately             36 mm. Thickness: Medium. Color: Upper surface: About 147A.             Lower surface: About 147B. Form: Elliptic. Tip: Acuminate.             Base: V-shaped. Margin: Crenate. Venation: Pinately veined.             Vein Color: About 139D on lower surface. Surface Texture:             Smooth. Leaf blade (Ratio of length to width): Medium. Shape             in the cross section: Flat. Profile: Somewhat flat. Leaf             blade tip: Usually in the plane of the leaf. Undulation of             margin: Absent.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: Medium; approximately 18 mm.             Average Diameter: Approximately 2 mm. Color: About 147C.         -   Leaf glands.—Form: Reniform, Very rare. Average Number: Most             leaves have none. Where they exist about two/leaf. Position:             On leaf base. Average Size: Small; approximately 0.5 mm.             Color: About 200D. -   Flowers:     -   -   General.—Flower Blooming Period: First bloom: Approximately             February 26. Full bloom: Approximately March 1. Time of             bloom: Medium. Duration of Bloom: Medium; approximately 10             days. Diameter of fully opened flower: Medium, approximately             25 mm. Flower aroma: Slight aroma. Shape: Rosaceous.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium; approximately 10 mm. Diameter:             Medium; approximately 1 mm. Color: About Yellow-green 144B.             Pubescence: Absent.         -   Petals.—Number: 5. Arrangement: Free. Length: Approximately             10 mm. Diameter: Approximately 10 mm. Shape: Circular. Apex             Shape: Rounded. Base Shape: Narrows at point of attachment.             Color: white. Surface Texture: Smooth. Margins: Slightly             undulating. Claw length: Medium. Margin waviness: Medium.             Base angle: Narrow. Division of upper margin: Entire.             Pubescence of inner surface: Absent. Pubescence of outer             surface: Absent.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: Approximately 3 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: About             Yellow-green 144A. Surface Texture: Smooth. Margins: Entire.             Positioning: Adpressed or touching petals. Pubescence of             inner surface: Absent. Pubescence of outer surface: Absent.         -   Stamens.—Number: Ranges from approximately 20 to             approximately 30. Average Length: Approximately 7 mm.             Filament Color: About white. Anther Color: About Grey-orange             167A. Flower Pollen Color: About Grey-orange 167A. Position:             Perigynous.         -   Pistil.—Number: Usually one, occasionally two. Average             Length: Approximately 10 mm. Ovary Diameter: Approximately             0.9 mm. Pubescence: None. Stigma Extension in Comparison to             Anthers: Usually below. Style Pubescence (of base): Absent.         -   Receptacle.—Depth: Medium Pubescence of inner surface:             Absent. Pubescence of outer surface: Absent. -   Fruit:     -   -   General.—(Description taken at the Sun World Research and             Development Center near Wasco, Kern County, Calif.) Harvest:             Date of first pick: Approximately July 1. Date of last pick:             Approximately July 15.         -   Maturity when described.—Firm.         -   Season ripening.—Mid-season.         -   Position of maximum diameter.—Towards the middle.         -   Symmetry about the suture.—Nearly symmetric.         -   Size.—Length (Stem End to Apex): Approximately 66 mm.             Diameter Perpendicular to Suture Plane: Approximately 66 mm.             Average Weight: Approximately 150 gm.         -   Form.—Viewed from Apex: Rounded, nearly symmetrical. Viewed             from Side, Facing Suture: Rounded, nearly symmetrical.             Viewed from Side, Perpendicular to Suture: Rounded, nearly             symmetrical.         -   Apex shape.—Rounded.         -   Fruit stem cavity.—Shape: Flaring, rounded. Depth:             Approximately 0.5 cm. Breadth: Approximately 1 cm. Width:             Medium.         -   Fruit stem.—Length: Approximately 9 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 3 mm. Color: About 147D.         -   Fruit skin.—Thickness: Medium. Adherence to Flesh: Medium.             Surface Texture: Medium. Pubescence: None. Bloom: Medium.             Ground color: About 144A, when visible. Overcolor: About             187A. Taste: Mildly tart. Reticulation: Absent. Roughness:             Absent. Tendency to crack: None.         -   Flesh.—Ripens: Evenly. Texture: Firm, juicy. Fibers: Few.             Flavor: Sweet-mild. Brix: Approximately 16°. Juice: Abundant             to moderate. Aroma: Noticeable when ripe. Color: About 61C.             Acidity: Medium-low. Eating quality: Good. Stone/Flesh             Ratio: 1.9/34. Firmness: Medium.         -   Pit cavity size.—

Length (Diameter in line with Suture Plane): Approximately 16 mm. Diameter perpendicular to Suture Plane: Approximately 12 mm. Color: About 63C.

-   -   -   Fruit use.—Fresh market.         -   Fruit shipping and keeping quality.—Good, holds well in cold             storage and maintains good firmness and eating quality,             minimal bruising and scarring in packing and shipping             trials.         -   Suture line.—Inconspicuous.         -   Stone.—(Measurements taken on dried stones.) Stone Freeness:             Semi-free. Degree of Adherence to Flesh: Weak. Stone Size:             Size compared to Fruit: Small. Length (Diameter in line with             suture plane): Approximately 16 mm. Diameter perpendicular             to suture plane: Approximately 12 mm. Width of Stalk End:             Medium; approximately 7 mm. Angle of Stalk end: Obtuse.             Hilum: Broad. Stone Form Viewed from side: Somewhat oval,             asymmetric. Viewed from ventral side: Somewhat oval. Viewed             from stem end: Somewhat oval. Stone Shape: Base shape:             Nearly straight. Apex shape: Nearly rounded to slightly             pointed. Stone Surface: Furrowed and pitted throughout.             Stone Halves: Nearly symmetric. Stone Ridges: Rounded             irregularly throughout. Stone Outgrowing Keel: Partially             developed. Stone Tendency to Split: Slight in wet season.             Stone Color: About 165C. Position of maximum: Toward middle.             Ventrical Edge: Medium thin with slight wing. Dorsal Edge:             Medium shallow grooves interrupted. 

1. A new and distinct plum tree as herein described and illustrated. 